Jockey pips Kofi Annan to portrait prize

By Tom McGowan, CNN

Updated 1428 GMT (2228 HKT) November 14, 2013

Jockey portrait wins top prize4 photos

Katie Walsh by Spencer Murphy – Spencer Murphy won the $19,000 Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize for this photograph of Katie Walsh, which shows the Irish jockey in the colors of the racehorse Seabass.

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Jockey portrait wins top prize4 photos

Kumbh Mela pilgrim by Giles Price – In second place was this picture of Mamta Dubey, who was on a pilgrimage to the Kumbh Mela festival in India. Photographer Giles Price took the shot in a pop-up studio outside of a hospital.

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Jockey portrait wins top prize4 photos

Kofi Annan by Anoush Abrar – The photograph of former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan by Iranian Anoush Abrar was awarded third place.

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Jockey portrait wins top prize4 photos

The twins by Dorothee Deiss – "The twins" was taken by German Dorothee Deiss and it shows two sisters she visited at their home. "I took a lot of more conventional portraits of them," said Deiss, "but when I found the bathrobe in a corner, perfectly fitting to the bedspread, that was when I knew I had the picture."

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Story highlights

A portrait of jockey Katie Walsh has won a prestigious photography prize

Briton Spencer Murphy received a $19,000 check for the shot of the Irishwoman

Walsh is pictured in the colors of the racehorse Seabass

A picture of former UN secretary general Kofi Annan was awarded third place

The life of a jockey is far from glamorous -- a world away from the confines of the rarefied, hushed atmosphere of London's National Portrait Gallery.

It's a life of blood, sweat and mud-splattered silks and it's also a hazardous profession, with jockeys at frequent risk of serious injury.

That gritty reality has been key to a photograph of jockey Katie Walsh winning a prestigious portrait competition featuring esteemed subjects like former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan.

British photographer Spencer Murphy took the award-winning picture of Walsh -- sister of famed Irish jockey Ruby Walsh and the daughter of trainer Ted Walsh -- during a promotional shoot at Kempton racehorse.

'Frankel the Great' – Chris Levine's "Frankel the Great," is a portrait of arguably the world's finest racehorse which will be officially unveiled at Ascot Racecourse this weekend. The stallion finished its career undefeated, winning all 14 of its races.

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Frankel and Queen Elizabeth II: Capturing greatness9 photos

By royal appointment – Levine produced this 3D image of Queen Elizabeth II in 2004. The portrait was commissioned to celebrate 800 years of the island of Jersey's association with the British monarchy.

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Frankel and Queen Elizabeth II: Capturing greatness9 photos

Model chic – Her majesty isn't the only iconic woman Levine has trained his lens on. He shot supermodel Kate Moss for this portrait called "She's Light (Pure)."

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Frankel and Queen Elizabeth II: Capturing greatness9 photos

Keeping up with the Joneses – Model turned pop diva Grace Jones has also posed for Levine, with this piece called "Stillness at the Speed of Light."

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Frankel and Queen Elizabeth II: Capturing greatness9 photos

Creative collaboration – Jones and Levine first met in 2008 and have enjoyed a successful collaboration. Levine created original laser displays for Jones' tour, while also publishing a number of photographs, including "Superstar" which is displayed here.

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Frankel and Queen Elizabeth II: Capturing greatness9 photos

Frankel and Queen Elizabeth II: Capturing greatness – Frankel's energy and effervescence made him a difficult subject, with Levine eventually having to shoot the horse inside the stables. He used multiple cameras to capture a complete image of the super stallion.

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Frankel and Queen Elizabeth II: Capturing greatness9 photos

Frankel and Queen Elizabeth II: Capturing greatness – Levine wanted to shoot Frankel in direct sunlight to show off the gleam of his coat. But predictable cloudy British weather meant he had to wait six days in order to shoot the horse.

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Frankel and Queen Elizabeth II: Capturing greatness9 photos

'Armchair Ride' – Levine isn't the first artist to draw inspiration from Frankel. Michael Kirkbride's painting, "Armchair Ride," was inspired by a poem about Frankel demolishing the field in last year's 2000 Guineas race.

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Frankel and Queen Elizabeth II: Capturing greatness9 photos

Cover star – Champion thoroughbred Black Caviar appeared on the December issue of Vogue Australia. It was the first time in the 53-year history of the magazine that a horse had featured on the front.

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EXPAND GALLERY

Black Caviar statue unveiled 5 photos

Black Caviar statue unveiled5 photos

Bronze Caviar – Champion racehorse Black Caviar has been immortalized in bronze in its hometown of Nagambie in the Australian state of Victoria. The mare retired following a stellar racing career in which it won all 25 of its races.

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Black Caviar statue unveiled5 photos

Famous rump – The sculpture, by artist Mitch Mitchell, is lifesize, right down to the horses famous rump.

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Black Caviar statue unveiled5 photos

Crowd pleaser – Black Caviar's exploits on the racetrack earned it a legion of loyal fans in Australia, many of whom turned up for the unveiling.

Lucky Luke – Nolen stands alongside the sculpture of the horse which he rode to 22 of her 25 victories.

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EXPAND GALLERY

Walsh is pictured in the colors of the racehorse Seabass, who she rode to third in the 2012 Grand National steeplechase at Aintree.

"I wanted to show both her femininity and the toughness of spirit she requires to compete against the best riders in one of the most demanding disciplines in horse racing," Murphy, 35, said in a statement after picking up the $19,000 Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize.

"I chose to shoot the series on large format film, to give the images a depth and timelessness that I think would have been hard to achieve on a digital camera."